Microsoft says Windows 11 runs faster on PCs with 8GB RAM

Microsoft has announced a set of performance changes to Windows 11 for PCs with 8GB of RAM. Pavan Davuluri, Executive Vice President for Windows and Devices at Microsoft, said the updates raise responsiveness on these PCs by as much as 20%. In Microsoft's own lab tests, multitasking was up to 40% faster than on builds released in January 2026.

The changes focus on memory. Windows will keep more active data in memory and give priority to the app the user is working in. Microsoft says it has also reduced resource use across Windows and its own apps.

Several app-level changes are part of the update. Microsoft Edge can launch faster. Teams gets Efficiency Mode turned on by default on supported systems. Widgets use less memory when closed, and Edge puts inactive tabs to sleep sooner than before.

Why 8GB PCs matter

Eight gigabytes of RAM is a common amount in budget and entry-level laptops. Many people in India use machines like these for office work, online classes and browsing, so slow multitasking on them is a daily frustration. Microsoft's focus on this memory size suggests it is aiming to make older or cheaper hardware feel less sluggish without new purchases.

The improvements reach users through Windows and app updates, so no separate download is described. Microsoft has not said which Windows 11 builds include every change, or how the gains would look on different laptops in everyday use. The figures of up to 20% and up to 40% come from Microsoft's own lab tests, and independent testing has not been reported.